Excerpt



Charles is a seventeen-year-old Black male who lives in a small, rural, East Texas town, in Hallsville, Texas. It is 1964. The Civil Rights Movement is in full swing, though it hasnt had much effect on Hallsville and the general area. His parents are farmers, and he is tired of living on the farm. His parents are older and from the old school. He is growing to maturity, and is thinking about his future. Charles doesnt feel he has much of a future on the farm.

He is a junior in high school and feels that he is wasting his time in school. If he stayed there another five years his educational attainment would be the same. The school system would not be integrated for another five years. He holds the backward, all Black, small town school system responsible for his limited education. If hes going to make something of his life he needs to get away and get some good basic education.

Charles is constantly the butt of jokes at his school. The other students call him a farm boy, and ridicule his clothes and his lifestyle. When his brother buys him a car, he gets the idea that its time to leave and head for places unknown. His girlfriend dumps him, another male attacks him, and this puts the final touches on his plans. He hates to leave his parents, but feels they can take care of themselves.

One Friday after school he decides to make his exit. All he has is a few clothes, a few dollars and a roadmap. He has no idea where hes going, but is confident that he can make a new life for himself. The trip is rather uneventful. He travels during the day, and sleeps at rest stops at night. He runs into a waitress who tries to seduce him, and is stopped by the Highway Patrol. Finally, he takes on the last few miles between Texas and Chicago.

He rolls into Chicago and stops at a restaurant. At the restaurant he meets Mrs. Ward, an elderly woman who has empathy for him and wants to help him. She provides Charles with a place to stay and food to eat for as long as he wants. Charles meets Rebecca, the niece of Mrs. Ward, and falls in love with her. They develop a relationship. Rebeccas boyfriend, Sean, is a drug dealer, and Charles naively falls into using drugs.

Charles has to go into a drug-treatment program because he is experiencing psychological effects from the drugs. Seans suppliers kill him for holding out on them. Charles then moved in with Rebecca. Rebecca becomes addicted to cocaine. They both vow to give up cocaine, but Rebecca finds it difficult.

Charles is now working at a parking garage, and his boss sees him as a son. The boss encourages him to go back to school and get his G.E.D. Mrs. Ward and her son Brian, also encourage him to go back to school. Charles begins to get the idea and decides its time to follow-thru with his plans for getting a better education. Mrs. Ward encourages him to visit his parents, but he vows to visit them, As Soon As the Weather Breaks.

Brian has a Ph.D. in psychology, and teaches at the University of Chicago. He serves as a mentor for Charles. Charles gets his G.E.D., a degree from community college, a college degree, and goes to the University of Chicago and gets his Ph.D. Its difficult, and on many occasions he feels as though he cant survive. He only makes it with the support of Brian.

Charless Brother, Thomas is killed in a car accident, and leaves Charles one-hundred-thousand dollars. He finally goes to see his parents. He uses this money to rebuild his parents home and give them some comforts before they die.

Charles gets a teaching job at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He and Rebecca are both happy, and they both like his new job and living situation.